Week 15 Power Rankings

With only two weeks remaining in the season, I'm in pretty good shape. Last week I went 11-5 to score 95 points, which ended up being pretty lousy for the week's contest (14th place out of 23). But it was good enough to keep me in second place for the season's race with 1281 points, and better still, I was able to cut 15 points into the lead of the top scorer and bring the deficit down to a still reasonable 34 points.

Now, for the year, I'm at 147-77 (.656), which is better than anybody on Yahoo!, and now leaves me only behind two of the seven ESPN personalities (that actually pick all games, of course) and their "Accuscore" feature.

So, we're down to two simple weeks and I'm sure next week will have be either still talking about a chance at first place or possibly worrying about whether I'll end up placing in the top three (I'm up on third place by only six points and fourth place trails by 18). But in the spirit of just wanting to cut through all the bullshit and get right to the games, I'm making this week's paragraph a nod to one of my favorite callers to the Boers & Bernstein show, "Quit playin'."

1. (1) DETROIT LIONS

• Last week: Lost to Indianapolis, 31-21 (+16)
• Actual Record: 0-14
• My predicted record: 3-11
• Points scored for me with wins: 0
• Points scored for me with losses: 164
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 0
• Points taken from me with losses: 11
• Plus/Minus: +153
  
• "Quit playin'!":

Their long run atop the points I go against a team with each week has officially ended as of last week. I'm convinced they can't really go winless for an entire season.

When (if I ever) go back and look at previous weeks, I'm sure I said I won't pick them again. But I'm renegging on that noise and probably picking them to win this coming weekend.

2. (3) ST. LOUIS RAMS

• Last week: Lost to Seattle, 23-20 (+7)
  
• Actual Record: 2-12
• My predicted record: 0-14
• Points scored for me with wins: 0
• Points scored for me with losses: 136
• Points taken from me with wins: 22
• Points taken from me with losses: 0
• Plus/Minus: +114
  
• "Quit playin'!":

They let one slip away last week against Seattle, and I'm just not sure they've got enough left in them to offer much of a challenge to either San Fran or the Falcons——whom will likely be trying to get into the playoffs with that finale.

3. (2) NEW YORK GIANTS

• Last week: Lost to Dallas, 20-8 (-6)
  
• Actual Record: 11-3
• My predicted record: 13-1
• Points scored for me with wins: 139
• Points scored for me with losses: 0
• Points taken from me with wins: 3
• Points taken from me with losses: 32
  
• Plus/Minus: +104
  
• "Quit playin'!":

That's 20 points they've cost me in the last two weeks, and the guys I was touting as certain faves to repeat for the Super Bowl are now runners-up to the Steelers, in my mind——maybe.

4. (11) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

• Last week: Beat Detroit, 31-21 (+16)
  
• Actual Record: 10-4
• My predicted record: 12-2
• Points scored for me with wins: 94
• Points scored for me with losses: 3
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 6
  
• Points taken from me with losses: 12
• Plus/Minus: +79
  
• "Quit playin'!":

"How'd they get all the way up to the four spot," you might ask.

And the logical answer is, "They got the Bengals and then the Lions back-to-back."

31 points, which is only one short of the maximum a team could earn in two weeks.

5. (8) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

• Last week: Beat St. Louis, 23-20 (+7)
  
• Actual Record: 3-11
• My predicted record: 5-9
• Points scored for me with wins: 17
• Points scored for me with losses: 77
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 10
• Points taken from me with losses: 13
• Plus/Minus: +71
  
• "Quit playin'!":

There's the off-chance they could catch the Jets on a bad West Coast sort of weekend, but considering the difficulty they had in getting by the equally bad Rams, I'm probably not going to bet on it.

6. (8) BALTIMORE RAVENS

• Last week: Lost to Pittsburgh, 13-9 (+5)
  
• Actual Record: 9-5
• My predicted record: 7-7
• Points scored for me with wins: 59
• Points scored for me with losses: 30
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 16
• Points taken from me with losses: 4
• Plus/Minus: +69
  
• "Quit playin'!":

In Dallas is a tall order and they have to win it if they're hoping to grab the other wild card spot.

7. (6) ARIZONA CARDINALS

• Last week: Lost to Minnesota, 35-14 (+1)
  
• Actual Record: 8-6
• My predicted record: 6-8
• Points scored for me with wins: 49
• Points scored for me with losses: 40
• Points taken from me with wins: 18
• Points taken from me with losses: 3
• Plus/Minus: +68
  
• "Quit playin'!":

A trip to New Enlgand is probably going to expose them for the non-threat they are when the playoffs begin.

8. (4) HOUSTON TEXANS

• Last week: Beat Tennessee, 13-12 (-13)
  
• Actual Record: 7-7
• My predicted record: 6-8
• Points scored for me with wins: 33
• Points scored for me with losses: 48
• Points taken from me with wins: 14
  
• Points taken from me with losses: 2
• Plus/Minus: +65
• "Quit playin'!":

I still have to kind of tip my hat to them for how they beat Tennessee, although the Titans really ended up beating themselves with poor playcalling. Still, they've now set themselves up nicely to probably finish .500, maybe even a game above.

8. (8) MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Last week: Beat Arizona, 35-14 (+1)
  
• Actual Record: 9-5
• My predicted record: 7-7
• Points scored for me with wins: 48
• Points scored for me with losses: 33
• Points taken from me with wins: 16
  
• Points taken from me with losses: 0
• Plus/Minus: +65
  
• "Quit playin'!":

I bet my uncle the Bears would still get in the playoffs and I'm quite serious. Even supposing the Giants "have nothing to play for" in the finale, I'm still a believer in Vikings' history which almost always involves flopping spectacularly.

10. (13) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

• Last week: Lost to Miami, 14-9 (+12)
  
• Actual Record: 5-9
• My predicted record: 3-11
• Points scored for me with wins: 20
• Points scored for me with losses: 80
• Points taken from me with wins: 26
• Points taken from me with losses: 10
• Plus/Minus: +64
  
• "Quit playin'!":

They could feasibly win their final two games and have a little hope about next year.

10. (6) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

• Last week: Lost to Atlanta, 13-10 (-3)
  
• Actual Record: 9-5
• My predicted record: 9-5
• Points scored for me with wins: 61
• Points scored for me with losses: 23
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 9
• Points taken from me with losses: 11
• Plus/Minus: +64
  
• "Quit playin'!":

They haven't lost at home all year and I wouldn't expect them to do it over the next two weeks, when they get to host two sub-.500 AFC West teams, the Chargers and the Raiders.

12. (12) PITTSBURGH STEELERS

• Last week: Beat Baltimore, 13-9 (+5)
  
• Actual Record: 11-3
• My predicted record: 12-2
• Points scored for me with wins: 79
• Points scored for me with losses: 0
• Points taken from me with wins: 8
• Points taken from me with losses: 10
• Plus/Minus: +61
  
• "PLAYOFFS?!":

If last week's game wasn't big enough, this week determines who would get home field if they met the Titans again in the AFC Championship.

13. (5) CINCINNATI BENGALS

• Last week: Beat Washington, 20-13 (-15)
  
• Actual Record: 2-11-1
• My predicted record: 3-11
• Points scored for me with wins: 1
• Points scored for me with losses: 106
• Points taken from me with wins/ties: 30
• Points taken from me with losses: 20
  
• Plus/Minus: +57
• "Quit playin'!":

The teams they've got left aren't playoff-bound either, so there's still reason to believe they could end up with another meaningless win or two.

14. (14) CAROLINA PANTHERS

• Last week: Beat Denver, 30-10 (+9)
  
• Actual Record: 11-3
• My predicted record: 10-4
• Points scored for me with wins: 80
• Points scored for me with losses: 4
• Points taken from me with wins: 11
• Points taken from me with losses: 17
• Plus/Minus: +56
  
• "Quit playin'!":

I never thought that we'd be sitting here talking about this team playing essentially for home field throughout the playoffs.

But here we are, and that's the case in both conferences.

15. (17) OAKLAND RAIDERS

• Last week: Lost to New England, 49-26 (+14)
  
• Actual Record: 3-11
• My predicted record: 1-13
• Points scored for me with wins: 0
• Points scored for me with losses: 96
• Points taken from me with wins: 38
• Points taken from me with losses: 4
• Plus/Minus: +54
  
• "Quit playin'!":

Probably want the season to be over as bad as anybody ...

16. (16) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

• Last week: Lost to San Diego, 22-21 (+10)
• Actual Record: 2-12
• My predicted record: 3-11
• Points scored for me with wins: 0
• Points scored for me with losses: 83
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 17
• Points taken from me with losses: 15
• Plus/Minus: +51
  
• "Quit playin'!":

... except maybe these guys.

17. (18) CLEVELAND BROWNS

• Last week: Lost to Philadelphia, 28-9 (+11)
  
• Actual Record: 4-10
• My predicted record: 3-11
• Points scored for me with wins: 3
• Points scored for me with losses: 76
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 21
• Points taken from me with losses: 8
• Plus/Minus: +50
  
• "Quit playin'!":

A couple big division games left to end another disappointing year for Cleveland.

18. (21) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

• Last week: Beat Cleveland, 30-10 (+11)
  
• Actual Record: 8-5-1
  
• My predicted record: 6-8
• Points scored for me with wins: 49
• Points scored for me with losses: 28
• Points taken from me with wins: 18
• Points taken from me with losses/ties: 15
  
• Plus/Minus: +44
• "Quit playin'!":

Playoffs may still be possible, but probably not very likely.

18. (20) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

• Last week: Beat Kansas City, 22-21 (+10)
  
• Actual Record: 6-8
• My predicted record: 7-7
• Points scored for me with wins: 34
• Points scored for me with losses: 26
• Points taken from me with wins: 2
  
• Points taken from me with losses: 14
  
• Plus/Minus: +44
  
• "Quit playin'!":

It would be entertaining if they could host Denver in the finale with an opportunity to steal the division, but they'd have to get through Tampa first ... in Tampa.

Not happening.

20. (24) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

• Last week: Beat Oakland, 49-26 (+14)
  
• Actual Record: 9-5
• My predicted record: 10-4
• Points scored for me with wins: 58
  
• Points scored for me with losses: 11
• Points taken from me with wins: 7
• Points taken from me with losses: 22
  
• Plus/Minus: +40
• "Quit playin'!":

I don't want to read too much into a win against Oakland, but both Arizona and Buffalo strike me as being easily winnable games for the Pats.

21. (25) MIAMI DOLPHINS

• Last week: Beat San Francisco, 16-3 (+12)
  
• Actual Record: 9-5
• My predicted record: 7-7
• Points scored for me with wins: 49
  
• Points scored for me with losses: 27
• Points taken from me with wins: 32
• Points taken from me with losses: 8
• Plus/Minus: +36
• "Quit playin'!":

I've still got them, not the Jets, going to the playoffs.

22. (14) TENNESSEE TITANS

• Last week: Lost to Houston, 13-12 (-13)
  
• Actual Record: 12-2
• My predicted record: 8-6
• Points scored for me with wins: 71
  
• Points scored for me with losses: 0
• Points taken from me with wins: 19
• Points taken from me with losses: 18
• Plus/Minus: +34
• "Quit playin'!":

Pretty bad week to get caught with the pants down too.

Everybody they play from here on out is going to be a quality team.

23. (23) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

• Last week: Lost to Chicago, 27-24 (+2)
  
• Actual Record: 7-7
• My predicted record: 6-8
• Points scored for me with wins: 35
• Points scored for me with losses: 24
• Points taken from me with wins: 9
  
• Points taken from me with losses: 17
• Plus/Minus: +33
• "Quit playin'!":

Detroit could be thirstier to win than the Saints, who don't have much left to play for.

24. (21) DALLAS COWBOYS

• Last week: Beat New York Giants, 20-8 (-6)
  
• Actual Record: 9-5
• My predicted record: 9-5
• Points scored for me with wins: 56
• Points scored for me with losses: 21
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 20
• Points taken from me with losses: 30
• Plus/Minus: +27
  
• "Quit playin'!":

Getting by the Giants was probably the biggest obstacle they had, but the Ravens won't be pushovers even if the game is in Big D.

Still, there's reason to be optimistic about at least getting in for Dallas fans.

25. (19) WASHINGTON REDSKINS

• Last week: Lost to Cincinnati, 20-13 (-15)
  
• Actual Record: 7-7
• My predicted record: 8-6
• Points scored for me with wins: 37
• Points scored for me with losses: 41
• Points taken from me with wins: 20
• Points taken from me with losses: 34
  
• Plus/Minus: +24
  
• "Quit playin'!":

You know how you find out that you're not ready to be in the playoffs?

You lose to the Bengals.

And don't let that score from last week fool you, either. The Skins were lucky to score late and secure a single-digit defecit for the defeat.

26. (26) CHICAGO BEARS

• Last week: Beat New Orleans, 27-24 (+2)
  
• Actual Record: 8-6
• My predicted record: 11-3
• Points scored for me with wins: 42
• Points scored for me with losses: 12
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 1
  
• Points taken from me with losses: 30
• Plus/Minus: +23
• "Quit playin'!":

No, really. I still think they'll win the division.

27. (28) NEW YORK JETS

• Last week: Beat Buffalo, 31-27 (+8)
  
• Actual Record: 9-5
• My predicted record: 9-5
• Points scored for me with wins: 61
• Points scored for me with losses: 5
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 17
• Points taken from me with losses: 32
• Plus/Minus: +17
  
• "Quit playin'!":

I really would prefer they not make the playoffs, as I felt I've endured more than enough Favre coverage for the year.

28. (27) GREEN BAY PACKERS

• Last week: Lost to Jacksonville, 20-16 (-4)
• Actual Record: 5-9
• My predicted record: 8-6
• Points scored for me with wins: 15
• Points scored for me with losses: 28
  
• Points taken from me with wins: 13
• Points taken from me with losses: 16
• Plus/Minus: +14
  
• "Quit playin'!":

Stumbling very poorly to the finish line.

29. (31) BUFFALO BILLS

• Last week: Lost to New York Jets, 31-27 (+8)
  
• Actual Record: 6-8
• My predicted record: 7-7
• Points scored for me with wins: 28
• Points scored for me with losses: 16
• Points taken from me with wins: 16
  
• Points taken from me with losses: 29
  
• Plus/Minus: -1
  
• "Quit playin'!":

It can't be fun being the one team that watches the other three fight for the division title ... especially when you started the year 4-0 and watched all three of them pass you up at one point or another.

30. (29) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

• Last week: Beat Green Bay, 20-16 (-4)
  
• Actual Record: 5-9
• My predicted record: 5-9
• Points scored for me with wins: 3
  
• Points scored for me with losses: 26
• Points taken from me with wins: 17
• Points taken from me with losses: 21
• Plus/Minus: -5
  
• "Quit playin'!":

Have more or less wrapped up the cellar of the AFC South.

31. (30) ATLANTA FALCONS

• Last week: Beat Tampa Bay, 13-10 (-3)
  
• Actual Record: 9-5
• My predicted record: 6-8
  
• Points scored for me with wins: 24
• Points scored for me with losses: 19
• Points taken from me with wins: 37
• Points taken from me with losses: 16
• Plus/Minus: -10
  
• "Quit playin'!":

Last week's somewhat unexpected win justifies my belief that they will surprise people in the playoffs.

32. (32) DENVER BRONCOS

• Last week: Lost to Carolina, 30-10 (+9)
  
• Actual Record: 8-6
• My predicted record: 11-3
• Points scored for me with wins: 35
  
• Points scored for me with losses: 9
• Points taken from me with wins: 19
• Points taken from me with losses: 38
• Plus/Minus: -13
  
• "Quit playin'!":

Hey! That's the first time Denver's actually come through when I picked them to lose! Keep up the good work!

And now, the playoff team predictions—which remain the exact same as last week:

AFC
#1 Pittsburgh Steelers
#2 Tennessee Titans
#3 New England Patriots
#4 Denver Broncos
#5 Indianapolis Colts
#6 Miami Dolphins

NFC
#1 New York Giants
#2 Carolina Panthers
#3 Arizona Cardinals
#4 Chicago Bears
#5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#6 Atlanta Falcons

16-point games: 7-0
15-point games: 5-3
14-point games: 12-2
13-point games: 11-4
12-point games: 12-3
11-point games: 12-3
10-point games: 12-3
9-point games: 9-6
8-point games: 9-6
7-point games: 10-5
6-point games: 8-7
5-point games: 6-9
4-point games: 9-6
3-point games: 8-7
2-point games: 9-6
1-point games: 8-7